Why here instead of nikonians?

ok, I'm going to ask the obvious question. Why here instead of Nikonians?

I know they charge for some membership levels but it seems to be a duplication?

Please correct me if I'm missing somehting hereas a new member/reviewer of the site.

Cheers

JC
 

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
Hey JC, I started this site because I wanted to create a better community using the latest and most widely used forum/community software available, vBulletin. I also wanted to make it completely free. Since the site is new, there isn't going to be a whole lot of content just yet. Content will take time. I hope users appreciate the ease of use and friendliness of the site.

Let me know if you have any ideas!
 

DaveKoontz

Senior Member
The benefit of Nikonites (to me) is that you have access to other photographers and Nikon camera nuts without having to search through the endless maze of advertisements and commercials. I was fed up with Nikonians and walked away from it several months before discovering
this site. Photographers of all level share ideas, experiences and expertise with each other, So far the arrogance of the snobby Nikonians hasn't
followed and we form a friendship with each other as opposed to a competition.
 

Curt

Senior Member
I love this site, I have gotten a lot of questions answered, I have met some great people that share the same interest in photography & Nikon cameras. I have made some important decisions regarding purchases, and I have posted my share of pics…..lol.
Thank you so much for setting up the site, I look forward to meeting and learning more
from the experienced members on this site.
 

torgo

New member
For my 2 cents, it seems to me that it doesn't need to be "instead of." There's no reason one can't be a member of multiple forums. :)

I left Nikonians when they went pay-mandatory, mostly because I didn't feel that content warranted paying for it. So now I hang out at NikonCafe, and (now) here. There's lots of duplication, but they're also different in subtle ways that makes all of them worthwhile. Variety is the spice of life!
 

Em11y

New member
Hey JC, I started this site because I wanted to create a better community using the latest and most widely used forum/community software available, vBulletin. I also wanted to make it completely free. Since the site is new, there isn't going to be a whole lot of content just yet. Content will take time. I hope users appreciate the ease of use and friendliness of the site.

Let me know if you have any ideas!


Jdeg, good to see you on TP :D
 

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
Dave, Curt - I'm really glad you guys are enjoying the site! It's growing fast!

torgo - absolutely right. I'm a member of many many forums. I saw NikonCafe before Nikonites was created, and it seems like a great community. I prefer more forums :)

Em11y, I saw hits coming from that site, so I figured I'd say hi :)
 

Ruidoso Bill

Senior Member
I also have been around the net with different forums. Not singling any one forum out, I don't like a forum that is cold to new members. For example the old no question is stupid, so I have seen some just ignore a post, refer them to search etc. Empathy for new members is how I judge a forum that will grow. Friendly and accepting regardless of expertise and skill level makes for a healthy, sharing forum. I see those qualities here so I'll be around.
 

Greywoulf

New member
Reasons for leaving Nikonians........

No 1: -I had a D70 when I first joined there and Nikonians had a section for almost every Nikon DSLR except the D70. They refused to give it any official recognition, and I soon became convinced it was because of the rampant gear snobbery I felt was there...

No 2: -They wanted to charge for full accessibility..

And No 3: -This here seems like a warmer, less uptight, more open forum. And still plenty knowledgeable; in a few weeks I've already gotten some valuable assistance and suggestions!​



 
Hi Folks, Good reasons for joining all....and I do understand the comments regarding gear snobbery over on nikonians. I'm looking forward to getting to know you on here and picking your brains whenever I'm stuck, which is often!!

In the meantime please feel free to give any constructive crtitcism on the images I've posted. I look forward to your comments.

JC
 

Snap Happy

Senior Member
Well one reason is because it is free. I believe if you pay for access to the internet, why should you have to pay to access sites that SHOULD be free. After all we spend a small fortune on our equipment. Surely that is enough to show your preference to one camera or another... Why should you forever have to shell out more $$$$ to talk to other people who have similar cameras to the one you use?

Secondly I do not see the value of paying for the other site. Honestly, what do you get for your money? If I am going to pay for something, I want my value out of it. Sorry, but I do not see the value of paying for a site, on the internet that I would not visit that often.

That is all I can think of for now apart from the fact that there are many communities out there that are helpful for photographers Pro or not, and are free as well.

So, you buy your equipment, that is not cheap. But to Nikon, is that not enough? Where does the grab for money end? I say it ends when they ask you to pay for a site on the internet :)

Don't get me wrong, I love my Nikon's. I also love my other cameras, but you got to draw the line somewhere :)
 

torgo

New member
<snip>
So, you buy your equipment, that is not cheap. But to Nikon, is that not enough? Where does the grab for money end? I say it ends when they ask you to pay for a site on the internet :)

Don't get me wrong, I love my Nikon's. I also love my other cameras, but you got to draw the line somewhere :)
It's important to note that Nikonians is run by Nikon as much as Nikonites is: not at all. Not to mention that it takes money to run a web site - buying hardware, paying for bandwidth, upgrades. While (as I remember) there were some questions about the transparency of Nikonians site administrators regarding where the money was being used, it's not like running that site (or this one) is free. And they don't get any money from Nikon for doing it.

That said, no quarrels with your other points of not wanting to pay for a site that you don't find value in (since it's why I left, too).
 

Snap Happy

Senior Member
Not to mention that it takes money to run a web site - buying hardware, paying for bandwidth, upgrades. While (as I remember) there were some questions about the transparency of Nikonians site administrators regarding where the money was being used, it's not like running that site (or this one) is free.


Most people that join one of these sites do so for the friendship/information sharing and so on. Everything costs money, I agree with that. But... If I start a website, I take on that cost. I take on that..... expense. But to pay, for something that you don't have complete control over, that opens up a whole new can of worms.

I have in the past paid for other sites. Only to have..... Unforseen actions taken and I was left feeling ripped off. So if I don't run it 100% then I don't part with my money.
 

Browncoat

Senior Member
I am also a member of a few general photography forums. When I got my D90, I began the search for another that was more specific to Nikon gear. I would never be a member of Nikonians. It is very clear, even at first glance, that their site is all about making money as opposed to building a real online community.

It's very expensive to run a site like this, especially where there are user galleries to upload images. Bandwidth ain't cheap. But there must be a balance between content and profit, and it takes a very special site owner to maintain that balance. It's a lot easier said than done. I'm a web developer, and I see a lot of admins who try to make a quick buck and fail.

For me, the choice was simple. This is a budding community that uses a great platform (vBulletin). It's important that the site admin is also a forum-goer and has a hand in helping his site grow. Building up a forum takes time, but many of the right things are in place here.
 

blueiron

New member
I belonged to Nikonians for a year. Not a bad site, but it seemed to be a bit insular. I left and stumbled into this site, which I find more open to all experience levels. Being able to help newer users is a bonus.
 

Snap Happy

Senior Member
It's very expensive to run a site like this, especially where there are user galleries to upload images. Bandwidth ain't cheap. But there must be a balance between content and profit, and it takes a very special site owner to maintain that balance. It's a lot easier said than done. I'm a web developer, and I see a lot of admins who try to make a quick buck and fail.

For me, the choice was simple. This is a budding community that uses a great platform (vBulletin). It's important that the site admin is also a forum-goer and has a hand in helping his site grow. Building up a forum takes time, but many of the right things are in place here.


Yep I agree, nothing like this is cheap. I take my hat off to the people with enough enthusiasm to start something like this. I do hope things go great here. Not being negative, but things can happen. It has been my experience that... sometimes the best intentions can lead to a catastrophic collapse. It has happened to me a few times before. I would hate to see it here.

Having been in IT myself, I have also seen a LOT come and go.
 

LexaRaeFoto

New member
To all:
Lets keep this real and down to earth! No one likes snobby know it-alls. =] I am so excited for what is to come on Nikonites! I am just starting my own business way, and well this site was like a god given answer to all my problems that come with trying to start something from scratch. I look forward to talking and hearing ideas as well as giving my own!
YAY for NIKONITEs! Lets do this!
 
Having founded and built (with help from a great staff) SubaruForester.org into the largest Subaru Forester specific site on the internet, I know exactly what goes into building a site. Now that I'm engaged in building NIK Forums - A Community of NIK Software Users into a resource for Nik software owners, users, and potential owners, I walked in knowing exactly what it costs. Publicity and marketing costs the most of any part of the overall money spent on building a site. I've spent more on advertising than on the cost of the vBulletin suite, the domain name AND the 3 months of hosting I've put into it so far.

Why here instead of Nikonians? I'm at both, but quite frankly, I have this bookmarked, and have to type in the URL for the other site. I've only come across a few people there that are worth knowing.
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Let's show a little love for jdeg for putting this site together! :) Takes a lot of work to maintain a website. I used to be a former site admin when I was in the rc helicopter hobby awhile back. While it's also a lot of fun, it can get tedious at times. So hats off to jdeg, and of course, his great staff (ahem) here in Nikonites! ;)
 

goz63

Senior Member
So, you buy your equipment, that is not cheap. But to Nikon, is that not enough? Where does the grab for money end? I say it ends when they ask you to pay for a site on the internet :)

Don't get me wrong, I love my Nikon's. I also love my other cameras, but you got to draw the line somewhere :)

Nikon does not make any money off Nikonians, they don't own it or sponser it.

Each site has its advantages. I belong to both and learn from both. For me it is not this one OR that one but both. For those that don't want to pay for a membership this is a great alternative. Diversity is a good thing. Offers something for everyone.
Mark
 
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